The National Primary Health Care Department Agency (NPHCDA) has confirmed a diphtheria outbreak in Kaduna State, Nigeria, with 20 fatalities and 156 recorded cases.
The victims, predominantly children, have succumbed to the bacterial infection, which primarily infects the throat and upper airways and produces a toxin affecting other organs. The disease is preventable by vaccination, but it has spread rapidly among those who have not been immunized.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPHCDA and Co-Chairman of the Federal Task Team on Diphtheria, expressed concern about the situation. “Most of the patients presented themselves late for treatment,” he said. He emphasized that diphtheria is a preventable disease and noted that about 80 per cent of those afflicted by the diseases did not present themselves for vaccination.
The NPHCDA is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against diphtheria and other preventable diseases. The agency is also working closely with local health departments to control the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.